The Human Body: Linking Structure and Function, Second Edition offers a comprehensive and accessible exploration of the human anatomy, making it an invaluable resource for students and professionals alike. Each chapter delves into a specific organ system, elaborating on how the unique structures within the body contribute to its overall functionality. Organized by organ system, this succinct publication presents the functional relevance of developmental studies and integrates anatomical function with structure. A new chapter presents the functional anatomy of a joint, including the skeleton, muscles, connective tissues, nerves and vessels. Written by a leader in the field for upper undergraduate, graduate and postdoc market, as well as professors and researchers studying functional anatomy, developmental biology, physiology and across the life sciences, dentistry, and nursing.

“Dr. Carlson’s book The Human Body: Linking Structure and Function is an ideal book which describes the human systems. It was insightful that he included embryonic evolution and origins in the start of most chapters and then after describing structures, Dr Carlson did a brilliant job of integrating common pathologies and the effects of aging in the systems. This will be a cornerstone book in the undergraduate Christian College of Medicine we will be starting in Belize.” Testimonial by Dr. F. Buck Willis, PhD, MD, FACSM, FIDF (Christian College of Medicine, Belize), 2025.

Bruce M. Carlson, MD, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Anatomy in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology in the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor. He served as chair of that department from 1998-2000. He is also Research Professor Emeritus in the school’s Institute of Gerontology, of which he was the director from 2000 to 2003. Professor Carlson writes the majority of the book himself but he has suggested that he may bring in one or two contributors this time round to cover areas that he is not as up to date on as he once was. We have spoken about bringing in a co-author and he is open for this to happen for the 7th edition when he has had time to find someone suitable.